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What is it that makes Indonesians Indonesian or Dutchmen Dutch?
I think it’s nationalism. The very phenomenon which according to fellow blogger Multibrand and Desi Anwar in a Jakarta Globe article, perhaps is diminishing in Indonesia. If that’s true it might be a pity as well as a blessing in disguise.
Most people consider patriotism and nationalism to be virtuous. I also unconditionally love a few parts of nationalism. The street-parties at the Dutch Queen’s Day for instance. But I can’t deny it sometimes provokes my laugh. It is hard to keep serious watching the coming to attention of a bunch of men and women often in fancy uniforms, the solemnly hoisting of a flag by perfectly grown ups, the collectively out of tune singing of a bombastic hymn, the stiff saluting of a cloth of textile and the measured way people put their left hand over the heart region. But it’s worse if nationalism starts to corrode people’s common sense. When it turns into jingoism.
My grandson Kris, whose real name is even better and much more complicated*, is two years old and holds two passports. He doesn’t know nor cares about them. Nationality is not an issue to him yet, let alone nationalism. Blessed innocence.
I’ve got secret plans to tell him that he could keep it that way. We humans don’t have a specific nationality gene to survive. We can do without it like we can do without our appendix. It usually doesn’t cause any harm but it may become inflamed. Unfortunately nationalism is socially contagious. Culture and social environment make some people lust for military parades and patriotic speeches. So better safe than sorry. Some preventive educational measures should be considered.
Kris’ innocence has been preserved till now. But I’m realistic. It probably will not last forever. Without protection the disease will get him. Perhaps even before he reaches the tender age at which his main interest will shift to testing the theory of the flowers and bees. He already is attending school in his neighbourhood in South Jakarta. Schools are breeding grounds of nationalistic identities. Two years old, mind you! Real nice and kind ladies teach him to socialize with other kids, to cook and most of all play. And to get him accustomed to national celebrations and singing. Before long he will take for granted the likes of Independence Day and the rituals that go with it. Soon he will know about flags and greetings and all that jazz. And, who knows, he some time in the future will add a few Dutch public holidays with their own specific nationalistic peculiarities and rituals to his repertoire.
By that time he will need a very sound mentality to avoid turning into a schizophrenic patriot 
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What can I do about it? How can I save him?
Not much. Too far away, too peripheral in his toddler’s daily experience. I can only rely on the wisdom of his parents ( well, their educational wisdom is beyond doubt ) and hope and expect he will rise above nationalism. And I can try to occasionally vaccinate him with a limited additional supply of social antibiotics in order to make him to take part in festivities but at the same time reject all kinds of political nationalism. That he will never embrace the my-country-right-or-wrong- nationalism. That he as a grown up will be committed to the community in which he lives and observe his civil obligations, but always will use his humanistic critical mind.
I trust he will. He is a bright boy after all. A genuine Indodutch .
* Wisanggeni Dewa Krishnahatma. Not a suitable name to start an artistic career, if you ask me .
**Added second picture of Kriss at the special request off Hijjaz .
As with religion, I find it suffocating.
I finished up a degree a couple of years ago among a pretty international student body. Regrettably, the potential cosmopolitanism of the program and group was quickly diminished as people tended to associate primarily with students from their own home country.
Canadians, leave your flag at home when you go abroad. No one cares that you are Canadian.
@ Mauricio: Nationalism is potentially dangerous. It can be suffocating indeed. The suffocating part to me is that’s semi obligatory to join and not participating often equals being the odd (wo)man out.
As for the social behaviour of Canadians (and probably all other nationalities): it’s a weird phenomenon isn’t it? In mixed company with mainly strangers most people tend to socialize with the ones with more or less obvious similar background-characteristic – occupation, nationality, gender, whatever. Is it looking for security in ambiguous conditions?
I’ve realized Kris’s name is so “Javanic” yet his dad is a Dutchman. I agree with you, since Kris is a bright boy, his mix cultural identity would have not taken him in distraction, he would be wise. It’s a realistic (and have to admit) some people have destiny (Kris is for instance) born in two obvious different ideology from their parent (due to different nationality). For me it’s the art of life destiny, colorful, and attempting to bend the difference mixing it into a new form of life.
Anyway, I wonder you depict bigger size of Kris pict, he is so cute indeed
@ Hijjaz: Thanks.
I really do hope my grandchildren will grow to be tolerant cosmopolitans.Grown ups who know about the relativity of their own convictions and beliefs. That their bi-cultural descent may be a help to be decent,understanding and empathic citizens indeed.
Especially for you I added another picture of Kris
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Thank you Colson. Kris must be lucky having nice family
Dad’s bright Batik looks matching with that of Kris. Was it in school as well anyway (Pict.1)?
His casual armless T-shirt depicting Bintang’s “Bir Pilsener” version reminds me of lovely aroma of that such beer
@ Hijjaz: It was at the same school indeed.
PS: Next time I’m in Indonesia we should meet and toast that occasion in several glasses of good Pilsener beer
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Fully agree with Hijjaz’s opinion. For me Nationalism means Binneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Plz check out also my new site my new
@ Utomo: I think the concept of “Unity in Diversity” is great as well; the present actuality shows how difficult it is to live up to it. Common language and shared culture are in my opinion the most important factors shaping that unity though.
New site? I go there right now
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Nah, I attended “flag ceremony” every monday from 6 to 18 years old. Nothing significant happened. LOL. He just need to see alot of things and and see different side of views, he’ll be fine:)
@ Melina: Welcome
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I agree: standing at guard watching the hoisting of a flag is innocent – though sometimes slightly laughable ( in my view). However my two Indonesian daughters-in-law who went to school in the eighties told me about their history lessons at school including the interpretation of the ’65 coup. If I understood well I’m afraid that was pretty close to brainwashing. Which of course is not innocent at all.